updated 09:35 am EDT, Wed April 9, 2008

BBC iPlayer for Wii

The BBC today said that its iPlayer is now available through Nintendo's Wii, marking the first time the TV catch-up service can be accessed through a game console. Currently in a test phase, the feature is available from a dedicated channel and lets UK-based gamers watch episodes of recent BBC shows as much as they like while they remain available on the site, which often keeps content for one or more weeks before they are removed for copyright reasons.

The BBC doesn't explain how its service works on the Wii but may have the option of the Adobe Flash plug-in found on the web version rather than the method used for iPhones, which relies on streaming an iPhone-friendly video format directly over the Internet.

The British broadcaster likewise doesn't say when it expects the Wii version of the service to be finished, but still plans additional test versions later in 2008. The company has, however, announced that it intends to develop a strictly TV-based version of iPlayer that will use digital TV service to control episode viewing.